Second-half surge not enough for Houston women’s basketball in loss to Utah

“We just dug such a big hole,” coach Matthew Mitchell said, when it came to a winning second half not being enough for Houston women’s basketball, in its 71-61 loss to Utah Saturday afternoon at Fertitta Center.

It was a hole big enough where not even outscoring the Utes 40-29 in the second half, backed behind senior guard TK Pitts’ 11 points in the span, could help the Cougars climb out. 

After a 5-0 Utah start within the first 60 seconds, the Cougars responded with a 10-2 run of their own off four early Utes turnovers. 

But in quick resolve for the Utes, things would not remain the same out of the first media timeout for Houston.

“We came out and built off some really good preparation, and I was pleased with that,” Mitchell said. “And then the energy dropped.”

In alluding to the all too familiar pattern of fast, competitive starts turned quickly out of reach through seven Big 12 games, Mitchell pointed to a lack of that energy offensively that contributed to a 35-11 Utah run out of the timeout into the break.

Another familiar sight, came as the Cougars’ sophomore guard Shun’teria Anumele heaved a half-court triple at the halftime buzzer, leaving Houston with a 42-21 deficit. Four nights earlier against No. 17 Texas Tech in Lubbock, Houston was on the receiving end of a late second quarter buzzer beater.

That heave began a scoring run for the Cougars that helped cut their deficit down to single digits with eight minutes remaining in the game, upon a driving layup by Pitts with the converted 3-point play to make it 54-45. 

Despite Houston capping off the final 90 seconds with a 9-0 run, the efforts of Utah, backed behind a combined 33 points and eight triples from senior guard Lani White and freshman guard Avery Hjelmstad, held firm to hand the Cougars, still seeking their first Big 12 win, their seventh straight loss. 

Though the game was mired in disappointment for Mitchell, it still resonated with him since UH Athletics designated it the “We Back Pat” game, partnered with the Pat Summitt Foundation in raising Alzheimer’s disease awareness.

Summitt, a polarizing figure in women’s college basketball who tenured 38 years at the University of Tennessee and led the Lady Volunteers to eight national championships, played significant influence in Mitchell’s life and coaching career. 

“There’s really not a day when I’m on the basketball court that I don’t think about her,” he said. “I wouldn’t be sitting here, visiting with all of you, here as the head coach at Houston without her impact on my life.”

Summitt’s impact echoed to Mitchell in a way where maintaining an energetic environment within a program, even in a rebuild, could become beneficial in the long run. 

“What she taught me, among many, many things, is just bringing consistent energy every day,” he said. “I’m grateful that she taught me that because right now we’re in a tough spot, a tough patch.”

With that tough patch still lies a tough road ahead, as the Cougars, at 6-12 overall, will begin a two-game road trip with a rematch against Kansas State at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 8:30 p.m. CST.